Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's great to be able to acknowledge all the great Territorians and all the great Australians who have contributed to what's so far been a world-leading response. As the previous speaker said, we can't let our guard down. We know there is a risk of a return in strength of COVID, so we must keep our discipline up and follow the health advice, and we'll continue to do well.

Restrictions are easing around the country. We shouldn't stop to forget, and it's important to remember and honour, the work of our health professionals: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied health workers, carers, aged-care workers, disability workers—all the frontline workers that kept us safe, fed and connected to each other and to essential services during the pandemic. But Australians themselves, everywhere, have made sacrifices to help flatten the curve. Many have distanced themselves from their families, which I know has been difficult. Some have shut down their businesses, paused their livelihoods and been forced to give up work. People have been forced to cancel weddings, and family members have been unable to attend funerals. These are not small things.

According to the reported stats this morning, Australia had 7,267 reported cases, of which 6,720 have recovered, and, unfortunately, we've had 102 deaths. In the last 24 hours, we've had two new cases nationwide. So we have fared better than most countries, but we need to be careful not to get too cocky, I suppose, and we need to be careful not to quantify the effects of COVID on these figures alone. Each of those 102 people we lost represents a life, a soul, a grieving family and community, and a reminder of how devastating COVID can be.

We should acknowledge the work done by the Department of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and their deputies and staff, and, in addition, the work done by the government and state and territory governments, and the constructive role and the constructive work of the federal opposition. While we cannot doubt the fact the government's response, both at the territory and state level and at the federal level, has saved lives, we should reflect on where the collective response could've been quicker and where it could've been better. Had we moved the Ruby Princess out of the question, the conversation about recovery and what the new normal would look like would be more advanced.

We should also reflect on the adequacy of the support provided by the government. We know that JobKeeper isn't perfect, and unfortunately the government's announcement of free child care has equated to no child care for many. The government's changes have meant that many Australians who need to access that child care are not able to access it. Let's keep working at it and get these policies right. Many of those providers who need funding are not able to tap into the additional funding allocated, putting the future of their centres in jeopardy. I held a briefing last week with the shadow minister for early education, Amanda Rishworth, the member for Kingston. I thank her for that. There were so many childcare operators that are really unhappy. I again encourage the minister to get it right.

The Northern Territory performed a vital role during COVID-19 for our nation. As it has always done, the Territory has been willing to do whatever is required to keep our nation safe and secure. In what now seems like an age ago, in early February, when borders and pubs were open and we were looking forward to the footy season starting, the Manigurr-ma Village at Howard Springs, just outside of Darwin, was utilised as a quarantining hub for Australian citizens and permanent residents who were evacuated from overseas, many of whom were in Wuhan and mainland China during the worst of the pandemic. It later held many people who needed to be evacuated from the Diamond Princess. That facility at Howard Springs, the old Inpex workers camp, is still being utilised to isolate people who do not live in Darwin or who do not have a home where they can self-isolate, including those who are homeless or live with other vulnerable people.

The Northern Territory has fared better than most. It would not be a stretch to say that because of the efforts of Territorians and the Northern Territory government the Northern Territory may just be the safest place in the world. As the NT Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, says, we are the safest and the freest right now in Australia. There has been no community transmission in the Northern Territory to date. There are no active cases in the Northern Territory. The last two active cases we had were soldiers. They got COVID overseas, they returned to Australia, they were treated and they recovered. I thank them for their service. To date, all positive cases in the NT have been connected to international or interstate travel. The Northern Territory government has released its road map to our new normal, which outlines the plan for easing restrictions in the coming weeks and months, provided, of course, that there's no surge in cases.

So at this point I think it is right to make some acknowledgments. I want to congratulate the Chief Minister, Michael Gunner; his deputy, Nicole Manison; the Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles; and all of the cabinet ministers, all the other ministers and all the members of that great NT government united team. Of course, the Department of Health workers and the Chief Health Officer have also been a great team. I want to acknowledge the work done by our police officers—in particular, the NT police commander, Jamie Chalker. Our police officers have been at every point of entry into the Territory. The officers have been patrolling with members of the ADF. I want to acknowledge some of those ADF members. The Operation COVID-19 Assist team, led by Brigadier Ash Collingburn, Commander, 1st Brigade, has done a sterling job. The team is now led by Colonel John Papalitsas, from the Regional Force Surveillance Group. I've had great feedback from the NT government on how good that assistance from the ADF has been, whether it has been in logistics, communications, planning or manning the biosecurity checkpoints. The internal biosecurity checkpoints in the Northern Territory have been stood down, but there are still seven border posts, as our border remains closed. There are four ADF members at these checkpoints working with NT police and NT health officials.

So I just want to acknowledge and congratulate them all. This Defence assistance to the civil community is essential and is appreciated by the people of the Northern Territory. They've all done a sterling job. But most of all I want to thank every Territorian. Keep doing the right thing, as we've done so far, and we'll continue to reap the rewards.

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